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More evidence of why people don't trust the "system"
Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2013 6:55 pm
by mojo84
Man wrongfully convicted of murdering his wife because the DA withheld evidence.
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Re: More evidence of why people don't yrust the "system"
Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2013 7:05 pm
by WildBill
A Texas prosecutor will be jailed for his role in the wrongful conviction of Michael Morton, who spent 25 years in prison. Ken Anderson will serve ten days in prison and perform 500 hours of community service. He will also be disbarred. The former Williamson County district attorney was charged with tampering with and withholding evidence in the murder trial of Mr Morton in 1987. Mr Morton spent a quarter of a century in jail before he was exonerated over the murder of his wife by DNA evidence.
Such a harsh sentence!

Re: More evidence of why people don't yrust the "system"
Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2013 7:09 pm
by Dave2
WildBill wrote:A Texas prosecutor will be jailed for his role in the wrongful conviction of Michael Morton, who spent 25 years in prison.
Ken Anderson will serve ten days in prison and perform 500 hours of community service. He will also be disbarred.
Such a harsh sentence!

Yeah, I'd love to know the justification for a mere ten days.
Re: More evidence of why people don't trust the "system"
Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2013 7:18 pm
by mojo84
Ten days of a DA's live is equal to 25 of a mere citizen.
Re: More evidence of why people don't trust the "system"
Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2013 7:27 pm
by philip964
Three year old child said monster killed his mom, not his daddy. Withheld from the defense.
Monster then went out and killed another woman after the father was convicted.
Hope he can live with himself.
Re: More evidence of why people don't yrust the "system"
Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2013 12:09 pm
by WildBill
Dave2 wrote:WildBill wrote:A Texas prosecutor will be jailed for his role in the wrongful conviction of Michael Morton, who spent 25 years in prison.
Ken Anderson will serve ten days in prison and perform 500 hours of community service. He will also be disbarred.
Such a harsh sentence!

Yeah, I'd love to know the justification for a mere ten days.
"This is the first time in the country's history that a prosecutor has been found guilty of criminal contempt, will go to jail and be stripped of their law license," Goldstein told NBC station KXAN of Austin.
I think the subject line has the best answer to your [rhetorical] question - The prosecutor was part of the "system" for over 25 years. It is very difficult to accuse and prosecute a colleague that you have worked with for so many years. Judges, DAs and defense attorneys all know that prosecutors sometimes withhold evidence if it hurts their case. Michael Morton is more forgiving that I would be under similar circumstances.
Re: More evidence of why people don't yrust the "system"
Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2013 3:09 pm
by Dave2
WildBill wrote:Judges, DAs and defense attorneys all know that prosecutors sometimes withhold evidence if it hurts their case.
Isn't it illegal to withhold evidence? Seems like judges, DAs, and defense attorneys should be eager to fight government corruption.
Re: More evidence of why people don't yrust the "system"
Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2013 3:20 pm
by WildBill
Dave2 wrote:WildBill wrote:Judges, DAs and defense attorneys all know that prosecutors sometimes withhold evidence if it hurts their case.
Isn't it illegal to withhold evidence? Seems like judges, DAs, and defense attorneys should be eager to fight government corruption.
I am not a lawyer, nor have I played one on TV, nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, nor should anything I say be taken as legal advice. If it is important that any information be accurate, do not use me as the only source.

Re: More evidence of why people don't yrust the "system"
Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2013 4:24 pm
by EEllis
Dave2 wrote:WildBill wrote:A Texas prosecutor will be jailed for his role in the wrongful conviction of Michael Morton, who spent 25 years in prison.
Ken Anderson will serve ten days in prison and perform 500 hours of community service. He will also be disbarred.
Such a harsh sentence!

Yeah, I'd love to know the justification for a mere ten days.
Because it was only contempt of court for lying to a judge not anything else
Re: More evidence of why people don't yrust the "system"
Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2013 5:55 pm
by mojo84
EEllis wrote:Dave2 wrote:WildBill wrote:A Texas prosecutor will be jailed for his role in the wrongful conviction of Michael Morton, who spent 25 years in prison.
Ken Anderson will serve ten days in prison and perform 500 hours of community service. He will also be disbarred.
Such a harsh sentence!

Yeah, I'd love to know the justification for a mere ten days.
Because it was only contempt of court for lying to a judge not anything else
That resulted in a man losing 25 years of his life. Saying it was "only contempt of court" is extremely offensive.
Re: More evidence of why people don't yrust the "system"
Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2013 7:18 pm
by EEllis
mojo84 wrote:
That resulted in a man losing 25 years of his life. Saying it was "only contempt of court" is extremely offensive.
Not when that's all he was charged with. He wasn't charged with withholding evidence or false prosecution or wrongful conviction, he was charged with contempt.
Re: More evidence of why people don't yrust the "system"
Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2013 7:25 pm
by Dave2
WildBill wrote:Dave2 wrote:WildBill wrote:Judges, DAs and defense attorneys all know that prosecutors sometimes withhold evidence if it hurts their case.
Isn't it illegal to withhold evidence? Seems like judges, DAs, and defense attorneys should be eager to fight government corruption.
I am not a lawyer, nor have I played one on TV, nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, nor should anything I say be taken as legal advice. If it is important that any information be accurate, do not use me as the only source.

You forgot to italicize the "not"

Re: More evidence of why people don't yrust the "system"
Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2013 7:27 pm
by mojo84
EEllis wrote:mojo84 wrote:
That resulted in a man losing 25 years of his life. Saying it was "only contempt of court" is extremely offensive.
Not when that's all he was charged with. He wasn't charged with withholding evidence or false prosecution or wrongful conviction, he was charged with contempt.
"The former Williamson County district attorney was charged with tampering with and withholding evidence in the murder trial of Mr Morton in 1987. Mr Morton spent a quarter of a century in jail before he was exonerated over the murder of his wife by DNA evidence."
It would still be offensive even if that was all he was charged with but it wasn't according to the article.
Only a fellow attorney or other player from within the system would think it is not offensive.
Re: More evidence of why people don't yrust the "system"
Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2013 7:34 pm
by tbrown
mojo84 wrote:Only a fellow attorney or other player from within the system would think it is not offensive.

I take some consolation he will burn for eternity for the sin of bearing false witness.
Re: More evidence of why people don't yrust the "system"
Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2013 7:41 pm
by EEllis
mojo84 wrote:EEllis wrote:mojo84 wrote:
That resulted in a man losing 25 years of his life. Saying it was "only contempt of court" is extremely offensive.
Not when that's all he was charged with. He wasn't charged with withholding evidence or false prosecution or wrongful conviction, he was charged with contempt.
"The former Williamson County district attorney was charged with tampering with and withholding evidence in the murder trial of Mr Morton in 1987. Mr Morton spent a quarter of a century in jail before he was exonerated over the murder of his wife by DNA evidence."
It would still be offensive even if that was all he was charged with but it wasn't according to the article.
Only a fellow attorney or other player from within the system would think it is not offensive.
Sorry you're right I should of said convicted of because every other charge was dropped.